How should I tell my bipolar girlfriend to take pills?

Question

I have a bipolar girlfriend and I want her to be stable but she doesn't want to take any pills. This is because she went to gifted school when she was younger, and she is very confident of how smart she is. She believes that she doesn't need to take medication. I can tell she is educated, brainy and got higher IQ but instead, she can hardly listen to my opinion. She can't listen to her parents or anyone surrounding her. She smokes weed often to relax but I don't like that and I don't think it's good for her either. She smokes a lot! If I tell her to stop smoking and take medication, she will be mad. How should I convince her that pill is the best way to be in stable condition? Do I just have to wait until she gets to the point that she cannot move?? Any suggestion?
Thank you.

Answer 1

wait for the nice side to come around and tell her then

Answer 2

Your friend seems to have everyone around her bamboozled. While she may need
to see a physician, there are no guarantees. Even an intervention, where the family and a therapist sit down and
explain how her behavior makes them feel, may have little effect on her and make her even more resistant to therapy.

If she does have bi-polar disorder, the
treatment is with Librium. The doctor will measure its levels while treating her so that she will feel normal. If she
knows she has the disorder and won't seek treatment, there isn't a law against it. If she starts hurting herself or becomes a danger to self and others a judge may sign an order for 24 hour hospitalization.(depending on the state she resides) Even then, a sympathetic doctor may release her if she is acting normal.
It's curious you continue to support her with her background. Have you asked yourself why you stay and what it is you are getting out of staying? Would she consider help if you carried out a threat to leave her? Think about what you will do if she continues on her same course. You may be in for a lot of fireworks. Is it worth it?
Good luck
God bless

Answer 3

If she has so many issues than why do you stay with her in the first place? If she isn't seeing a doctor, maybe you should bring it up and have her talk to a therapist that doesn't prescribe medication. That way she won't feel threatened by medication, but might at least have a professional watching out for her. Also, maybe you should play to her intelligence. Smoking weed so much kills brain cells period. Bring up that maybe she should look for an alternative relaxation technique that isn't slowly taking away her precious intelligence. Intelligence has nothing to do with being bipolar. They are two separate issues that are not interconnected. You cannot "smart" your way out of bipolar disorder. It's something you have like a broken arm, you can't just fix it by being smart. You have to get help for it to heal correctly. I think that your g/f is looking for excuses not to get help. She is reliant on pot to get her through and without outside help will continue on the path that she is on. No one can make her change. You have to be prepared for that and ask yourself if she doesn't want to change do you want to deal with this behavior for the rest of your life?

Answer 4

unfortunately it's not because she is so smart that she does not want to take her pills, it is a trait (or symptom) of the bi-polar condition, all bi-polars and manic depressive people think this. you as a friend need to read as much as you can on this mental illness. and realize that the laws of the medical community are against you and do not really have the best interest of the bi-polar person at heart, the law stats that this person has a right to refuse medication. so you are fighting a big battle. you can as a friend try to talk with this person and on a good day get them to take meds. but other than putting pills in mouth and watching them swallow and checking inside of mouth will you know for sure. but after a person has been off meds for awhile even going back on them they will not be right because it can take days sometimes weeks for the meds to kick in and do their best job.
you really need to read as much as you can. a great book for family friends and husbands/wives is stop walking on egg shells by paul mason. it really helps the Friend or loved on understand they are not alone. support groups are good but it's hard to find a good one. sometimes it's better to talk one on one with someone than in a group.
good luck

Answer 5

Hon, you are very misinformed about bipolar disorder, and other people, in general.

First, about bipolar disorder -- you can't force your girlfriend to take meds or to stop smoking pot. You don't have to put up with her behaviors or symptoms... but a PILL does not cure bipolar disorder. The pills might help to level her mood, but sometimes that doesn't work. Your girlfriend has to want to get help.... and if her meds don't work properly she needs to consult her doctor...

And those of us with bipolar disorder, including myself, need to stick with our therapy along with the medication.

Secondly, you can't control anyone but yourself... so telling her to take pills isn't going to help. telling her not to smoke pot, isn't going to make her stop.

If she is out of control, doesn't want to manage her illness and follow doctor's orders, there is nothing you can do.

Why not take care of YOU instead and get out of a situation which is causing you distress.